Three Square Meals Ch. 070

He turned and smiled at her as he said, "Any time, Faye. My door's always open..." Nodding towards the closed door to the Ready Room, he added, "Figuratively at least."

She giggled, and nodded to him gratefully, then winked out of existence in a purple flash. He pressed the button to open the door, and was met by... Faye. "Hi," she said with an impish grin.

"You're enjoying this a bit too much," John said, as he climbed the steps to his Command Chair.

Nodding, she said, "It's fun being able to do so much at once." Her wings fluttered in long sweeps, lifting her up onto his console where she perched on the end. She smiled at him as she added, "That reminds me, I've been fielding lots of calls in the last few days. Mostly from reporters who've managed to find out our comm ID, begging for interviews. They were different ones to Jehanna Elani."

"Oh, thanks for sifting through all those," he said gratefully. "Anything else I'd be interested in?

"A couple of personal calls for Calara from her mother, which she's responded to, and one from Rachel's father, which she hasn't," Faye said quietly.

"I'll speak to her about it, thanks," he noted with a nod. "Was that it?"

Shaking her head, the purple AI replied, "I spoke to a very pretty Oceanus representative who wanted to talk to you."

*I wonder if that was Felicity?* Alyssa asked him eagerly. *She was a fox!*

John glanced at the system map, and took a good look at the Maliri fleet they were approaching. There was a golden armoured Maliri battleship escorted by six cruisers waiting to meet them, the graceful and delicate ships looking resplendent as they shone in the light from the nearby stars. Remembering that the battleship was equipped with Nova Lances, he thought it might be wise to take a few precautions.

*Jade's there already helping Dana. If the shit hits the fan, Calara's only in the Briefing Room. She'll be with you in seconds,* Alyssa explained confidently.

Feeling less worried, he glanced at Faye, and said, "Alright, we've got five minutes. Can you call the Oceanus rep for me, before we get out of range of the Terran comm beacons?"

Faye smiled at him, and hopped off his console as she replied, "Of course, putting the call through now."

The call only took thirty seconds to connect, and the holographic image of the stunningly attractive blonde filled the screen. She looked delighted that he'd called, and she greeted him with a sparkling smile.

"Thank you so much for calling me back!" she exclaimed, her beautifully clear voice vibrant with emotion.

John smiled at her, and said, "It's good to see you again Felicity. I hope you're well?"

"My parents live on Terra!" she gushed, revealing the source of her earnest gratitude. "I just wanted to say, thank you so much, for saving them!"

"It was the least I could do after the great holiday you arranged for me," he replied playfully.

She looked startled for a moment, then laughed with delight at his joke. Her tinkling laughter was a truly lovely sound.

*Hey, I thought I had the best laugh?* Alyssa teased him.

*By miles,* he agreed playfully.

Felicity managed to regain her composure, and said with a warm smile, "Actually, I do have another reason for calling you." She leaned in, and whispered, "I would have been fired if I had called you for a personal reason, but I was going to anyway, to thank you for saving Mum and Dad!"

"Well, I'm glad you didn't have to risk your job to call me. What else did you need to speak to me about?" he asked, as she sparked his curiosity.

*Hmph, I'm not glad,* Alyssa noted with a telepathic pout. *If she'd got fired just to say thanks, you would have felt obligated to look after her, then sooner or later I'd have found a way to get her aboard the Invictus. Just imagine that ravishing beauty eagerly sucking down your cum!*

John did his best not to imagine that, as getting through the rest of the call with any sense of composure would have been extremely difficult.

Instead he listened to Felicity attentively as she said, "It is my absolute pleasure to tell you that the Oceanus corporation would like to offer you two months vacation at any time of your choosing. All expenses paid. You simply have to specify your destination criteria as before, whenever you choose to stay with us."

Remembering just how staggeringly expensive their two week vacation at the custom terraformed resorts had cost, he grinned as he said, "That's extremely generous! Please thank your employer for me."

Felicity beamed another glorious smile at him as she nodded, then suddenly looked aghast. She frantically tapped buttons on her console, and said, "Oh drat! I was supposed to send you the message!"

John waited patiently for her to find what she was searching for, amused to see the extremely professional and capable young woman looking so flustered. Eventually she found the holo-recording, and activated it with the press of a perfectly manicured finger.

A separate projection displayed in the centre of the Bridge, depicting several smiling executives. A distinguished looking man in a very expensive looking suit, said earnestly, "We at the Oceanus company would like to offer you our sincerest thanks. Many of us have friends or relatives who live on Terra, and are overwhelmingly grateful to you for your actions. Thank you, John. We will always consider you a special guest, and true friend to Oceanus."

"Thanks Felicity. Please pass on my regards to your employers, and thank them for their generosity," John said, as he looked at the blonde girl with a grateful smile.

She sighed happily as she waved him goodbye, and Faye closed the call.

*The girls are overjoyed. Jade in particular,* Alyssa told him, sounding genuinely pleased as well.

*Another holiday on Oceanus would be a lot of fun,* he agreed, imagining all the girls in bikinis.

She heard his lascivious thoughts, and said, *You'll get no argument from me there.*

"We're being hailed, John," Faye informed him, unaware of the ongoing telepathic conversation.

Shifting in his seat, John replied, "Put them through please, Faye." While he waited for the image of their caller to appear, he added to Alyssa, *Best keep Irillith off the Bridge. These Maliri would likely have a fit if they saw her running around on the Invictus without any armour.*

*Let alone what you do with her in your bedroom,* Alyssa said with a smirk. *Don't worry, she'll keep out of sight.*

The holographic image on the viewscreen coalesced into a fully armoured figure, her golden armour intricate and patterned with tiny scrollwork.

"I - I'm..." the Maliri woman stuttered, her helmet rigidly immobile.

John guessed she must have been staring at him behind her helmet, so he smiled at this mysterious Maliri, and said, "My name's John Blake. Thank you for welcoming me into Maliri Space."

"I'm Emalayne, Fleet Commander for House Loraleth..." the woman replied distractedly.

"Nice to meet you, Emalayne. I was informed that you had some data for me?" he asked, hoping to jar her out of her stupor.

Finally managing to overcome her fascination with him, Emalayne said, "Matriarch Kali Loraleth ordered me to meet with you and transfer a certain data file. Are you ready to receive it?"

Glancing at Faye, she smiled and nodded eagerly.

"You can begin the transfer whenever you're ready," he replied, giving her a friendly smile.

"Mmm-hmm," Emalyne murmured, staring at him once more. She visibly shook herself, and sounded embarrassed as she glanced off to her right, issuing a stern order, "Send them the data!"

It only took a few seconds to retrieve Edraele's dossier of information on Underworld and its ruler, Hades. Faye gave him a thumbs-up sign as soon as the transfer was completed, and she routed the data on to Calara who was using the Briefing Room as a research room.

"We got the files, thank you Emalyne," John said, smiling at her gratefully. "Unless you have any other business with us, I'll wish you safe travels and we'll be on our way."

The armoured Maliri leaned forward, and said eagerly, "Perhaps you'd like to..." She trailed off, managing to get herself under control, but she sounded badly shaken as she added, "N-No, but have a safe journey too, Mr Blake."

Faye ended the call, and the ostentatiously armoured woman disappeared from the screen.

*Irillith probably wouldn't mind a short delay, if you want to pop over there for a few hours and make some friends,* Alyssa mentioned, her tone airy. *I bet that's what Emalyne was about to suggest before she changed her mind at the last minute. If you asked nicely, I'm sure they'd be delighted for you to cum and pay them a visit.*

John was about to make some witty comeback, but he could well imagine the effect his visit would have on a ship full of Maliri women. He coughed, and readjusted his trousers.

*I wish I could have been there to meet you,* Edraele said, full of regret. She sighed as she continued, *Unfortunately I have a number of other pressing concerns I can't abandon here on Valaden.*

*It's alright Edraele, I understand,* he replied sympathetically. *From everything you've told me so far, ruling must be a huge burden.*

*Some people are born to rule, and find the role fits them effortlessly,* the Maliri matriarch replied, a slightly odd catch to her voice.

He laughed as he replied, *Well I'm not one of those people, that's for damn sure!*

After a lengthy pause, Edraele said cryptically, *I suppose time will tell, John. I think you might surprise yourself; you continue to impress me.*

John shivered at the thought of that much responsibility, but Edraele's unshakeable confidence in him was reassuring nevertheless. He'd found himself relying heavily on her over the last few weeks, with the Maliri Matriarch supporting him with all sorts of politically fraught encounters he'd never have been able to manage without her. In a matter of just over a week, he'd be back on Valaden, and he fully intended to break the bond that existed between them, freeing her from the compulsion to obey him. His only concern with that course of action, was how she would react once that link had been broken.

When his Progenitor side had broken the link between himself and Alyssa, she'd leapt at the chance to re-forge her connection with him, making it all the stronger for their new bond. They were in love with each other though, and although he was very fond of Edraele, he had no idea how she'd feel once the standard Progenitor connection had been severed. If she chose to part ways with him, he wouldn't dream of holding her to him against her will, but he knew he'd miss her comforting presence in his mind.

*She'd have to be fucking crazy to abandon you,* Alyssa remarked incredulously. *It's never going to happen.*

Edraele had remained quiet, not willing to disturb his introspection, and listened to him carefully instead. As he mulled over Alyssa's words, she finally said, *She's right, John, I'd never dream of leaving your side. Please don't worry.*

*We'll just have to see how you feel when the time comes,* he replied gently. *You know my feelings already, and they aren't going to change, but you might have a very different perspective once I sever our connection.*

*Then don't do it!* Edraele suddenly blurted out. *Leave everything exactly as it is! I love being your Matriarch as we are now, I swear it!*

*You know I can't do that,* John said, his voice full of compassion.

He could almost hear her heavy sigh, as she said, *Yes, I know you very well, John. I understand.*

When Edraele went quiet again, he could feel how worried she was across their empathic connection, and he dearly wished he was by her side. He rose from his chair, nodding to Faye, and waving Dana and Jade goodbye. If he stayed there any longer he'd end up tying himself in knots with worry, so he strode towards the grav-tube to see how his protégé was faring.

***

Matriarch Tsarra Perfaren's nimble blue fingers danced over the console, as she cycled through the troubling reports from her advisors again. Rereading them did nothing to soothe her worries, and only ended up sharpening her anxiety. She activated the holo-map projections from her Fleet Commander, then turned to stare at the three-dimensional display of House Perfaren's territory.

Enemy fleets were displayed with the icons of their Noble Houses, the larger icons representing the bigger concentrations of forces. What had her gripping the armrests of her chair in a white-knuckled grip were the three huge insignias from Houses Naestina, Aeberos, and Loraleth that were threatening her border from multiple locations.

Her spies had informed her some time ago that Matriarchs Yunaliss Aeberos, and Tinefain Naestina were in bed with each other. Quite literally, in fact. The knowledge that they were in an alliance wasn't a particularly surprising revelation, as it was well known that the two houses had worked together to take down more powerful foes. However, seeing the enormous size of their forces being deployed against her came as a terrible shock.

The only conclusion she could draw, was that they'd somehow been involved in a vast, yet secret shipbuilding program, which had allowed them to swell their forces in such a manner. Tsarra knew she was clutching at straws with that theory though, as it ran contrary to every production estimate she'd ever seen for their shipbuilding capabilities. There was one other possibility, but that was so far-fetched she'd dismissed it immediately. The thought that both those duplicitous Houses would denude their borders with House Valaden of all forces, was simply ludicrous.

Every matriarch without exception loathed Edraele, the utterly merciless House Valaden Matriarch, while also greatly coveting her custodianship of Genthalas shipyard. To expose one's House to the inevitable betrayal by trusting her seemed positively laughable.

Tsarra's fearful eyes darted to the third icon representing the House Loraleth fleet, which had been recently reinforced to threaten her lower borders. Shaedra Loraleth's visceral hatred of Edraele was well known, so for her to be a part of this was even more confounding. Still, there was that troubling report from her spy on Ishalon, mentioning an explosion in the Loraleth palace. If Shaedra had been assassinated, then the meticulous forecasts and predictions her analysts had developed for House Loraleth, based on her personality and history of command decisions, were now rendered utterly useless. They would have to start afresh, building up a picture of Arbane Loraleth, next in line of succession as Matriarch to House Loraleth.

She slumped in her chair, brooding as she tried to determine her best course of action. Ever since her mother and two sisters had been poisoned, and she'd claimed the title of Matriarch to her house, her position had been vulnerable. It was only the strength of her fleets and the number of worlds in House Perfaren's possession that had saved them from tumbling down the Noble rankings, but that still left them clinging precariously to rank three. She strongly suspected it was one of Tinefain Naestina's assassins who'd been behind the murders, in revenge for Perfaren's annexation of two of their worlds late last year. While Tsarra had been plotting her own revenge, it now seemed she had left it too late.

As the youngest of the ruling Matriarchs, she knew her duty to her House was to start building a dynasty, but such things would have to be postponed for the moment. While the safety of her very House was threatened so dramatically, the last thing she could afford to do was become pregnant. She needed to be clear-headed and focused in the coming months if war was brewing with the other Houses, especially when such a confrontation threatened her very survival.

Leaning forward, she pressed a button on her comms interface, and after a couple of seconds, the face of her personal assistant came into view. "Renelle, please can you cancel my next meeting, I need to make an important call," she said with a ringing note of authority.

"As you wish, Matriarch," Renelle said, bowing her head in a respectful manner. "Shall I schedule another meeting with your planetary governors?"

"Yes, fine, do that," Tsarra replied sharply, stabbing a finger down on the button to end the call.

She was dreading the thought of her next conversation, and she knew it was unkind of her to take it out on Renelle. Still, she'd seen her mother do far worse, and she'd have to toughen up if she was to survive as a Matriarch. Scrolling through the list of names, she eventually found the one she was looking for, and she grimaced as she prepared herself to connect the call. The most popular males at the border stations could be temperamental when they thought their time was being wasted, and she knew she'd have to handle this conversation very carefully.

The comms interface suddenly began to flash, and a glowing red icon appeared, tagging an incoming message as classified and of the utmost urgency. Her relief at postponing the other call was overshadowed by her anxiety, when she saw who the message was from. Pressing the icon to accept the call, the face of Aadya, her Fleet Commander, filled the screen. The normally reserved and professional Maliri officer looked deeply unsettled, which filled Tsarra with a dark sense of foreboding.

"What is it, Aadya?!" she asked, her heart racing in her chest.

"You won't believe me if I tell you! Look at the file I transmitted!" the shaken woman replied, visibly trembling.

Tsarra clicked another button to begin the playback of the attached video, and turned to look at the holo-projection in the centre of the room. Four massive battleships, and three heavy carriers were being escorted by several dozen deadly-looking cruisers, the crossed-blades insignia of House Valaden clearly visible on their golden hulls.

"Was this taken at Genthalas?" Tsarra asked curiously, as she wondered why her Fleet Commander looked so worried. House Valaden didn't share a border with Perfaren territory, so if Edraele was moving to exploit Houses Naestina and Aeberos stripping forces from their borders, it could only be a good thing for her own House.

"It was taken from a covert reconnaissance probe in House Loraleth territory, Matriarch!" Fleet Commander Aadya replied. "We received its daily data burst ten minutes ago, but the footage was taken yesterday!"

Laughing with relief, the House Perfaren Matriarch grinned as she exclaimed, "It looks like we have an unlikely saviour, Aadya! Edraele couldn't have timed her raid against House Loraleth any better for us. If this escalates into open warfare between those Houses, we'll be able to pull forces from the Loraleth border! Holding off Naestina and Aeberos will be easy!"

Looking ashen, Aadya shook her head, and replied fearfully, "That fleet isn't coming for House Loraleth..."

The holo-video of the ships winked out, to be immediately replaced by the House Perfaren territory map. The three huge insignias representing enemy fleets were joined by a fourth, bearing the crossed-blades insignia of House Valaden. Tsarra gaped in horror at the map, which showed Edraele's forces now sitting on her -own- border, poised to attack.

"No! That can't be possible!" she cried out in panic, her heart hammering in her chest.

Aadya gazed at her with a look of dread, and replied, "They've allied against us, Matriarch. We're doomed."

Tsarra slumped in her seat, overwhelmed with despair. House Perfaren was lost; there was no way she could withstand simultaneous assaults from -four- enemy Houses. That didn't even take into account the fact that this unholy alliance included both Valaden and Loraleth, who possessed the biggest fleets in the Maliri Regency. She felt only regret to have failed her people so badly, and wondered what sequence of decisions had lead to such a horrific calamity for herself and her House.